Bottle Shock (2008)

Bottle Shock is the entertaining portrayal of a British wine seller in France (the ever-engaging Alan Rickman) by whom pro-Gallic wine snobbery got its comeuppance from the rising challenge of California wines. True story: Thinking to put Napa and Sonoma wines in their place but dedicated to presenting a fair contest, Steven Spurrier (Rickman) conceived of and championed an international wine tasting competition that would pit French against California wines -- and the wine world was astonished when California won the double-blind competition hands-down. More so, however, Bottle Shock is the tale of hard-working American neophyte vintners determined to mortgage their futures and blaze new vinicultural paths. It's a story of faith in creativity, in gift, in self, and in the land -- blessed and sundrenched -- that is California. 4 stars.